COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY, JUSTICE AND 
PUBLIC SAFETY 
02/13/2026-HELD IN COMMITTEE 
 
 
BILL NO. 
36-0151 
 
Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
September 10, 2025 
 
 
 
An act amending title 23 Virgin Islands Code regarding the illegal possession of machine guns 
and machine gun conversion devices 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY:  Senator Angel L. Bolques, Jr. 
 
 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 
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SECTION 1.  Title 23 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5 is amended as follows: 
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(1) 
In section 451: 
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(a) subsection (j), after “Automatic weapon” insert or “ “machine gun”; 
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(b) subsection (l) is amended by inserting the following sentence at the end: 
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“Conversion kit includes machine gun conversion devices, chips, three 
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dimensional printed parts designed to mimic selector plates, and binary 
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triggers which allow a firearm to discharge one round upon the pull of the 
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trigger and a second round upon release of the trigger.”; 
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(2) 
By inserting the following section 481a: 
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Ҥ 481a.  Possession, sale, manufacture, or distribution of machine gun 
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conversion devices prohibited; penalties. 
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(a) 
As used in this section: 
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(1) 
“Machine gun conversion device” means any item defined as a “conversion 
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kit” under section 451(l) of this title. 
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(2) 
“Machine gun” shall have the same meaning as provided in § 451(j) of this 
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title. 
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(b) 
It is unlawful for any person to knowingly possess, manufacture, import, sell or 
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offer for sale, distribute, or transfer any machine gun conversion device within the Virgin 
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Islands. 
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(c) 
Any person who violates this section shall be fined not more than $100,000, or 
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imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both. 
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(d) 
All machine gun conversion devices possessed, transferred, or distributed in 
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violation of this section are subject to immediate seizure and forfeiture. 
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(e) 
This section does not apply to law enforcement officers, active-duty military 
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personnel, or licensed firearms manufacturers acting within the scope of their duties and in 
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compliance with federal and territorial law. 
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(f) 
The Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department shall promulgate 
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regulations to implement this section, including procedures for seizure, forfeiture, and 
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enforcement. 
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SECTION 2.  This act takes effect 90 days after enactment. 
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BILL SUMMARY 
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Section 1 amends title 23 Virgin Islands Code to include definitions and penalties for the 
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illegal possession of machine guns and machine gun conversion devices in the Virgin Islands. 
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Section 2 provides for the act to take effect 90 days after enactment. 
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BR25-0619/July 10, 2025/PFA 
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